Get to Know Tim Pimperl: Bay Minette man says God led him into teaching

BAY MINETTE, Alabama -- Tim Pimperl took a detour through nursing before becoming a teacher, but now the 20-year teaching veteran and this year’s middle school Teacher of the Year at Perdido School said he sees how his career paths coincided.

Tim Pimperl

"I grew up in Perdido and graduated from Baldwin County High School," he said. "I originally thought teaching was a great field but the job market wasn’t so good."

So he earned a nursing degree at Mobile College, now the University of Mobile, and went to work at Mobile Infirmary.

"I was in surgical intensive care," he said. "I assisted with open heart surgery, and I enjoyed it. But I was restless. I knew there was something else I needed to do."

He began working more with the church, and found himself being pulled into teaching jobs, he said.

"I got involved at Last Days Ministries and did their Intensive Christian Training," he said. "I did a mission outreach with them and was ordained at Perdido Baptist Church." After that, he volunteered as an associate pastor there and was involved with youth ministry.

"I was teaching when I was a nurse and (with Last Days Ministries) I taught a hazardous chemicals communications program," he said. "I worked as a youth minister, and through all those experiences, God confirmed I was supposed to be teaching school."

The principal at Perdido asked Pimperl to join the staff as a basketball coach and physical education aide, and Pimperl enrolled at the University of South Alabama, where he completed his master’s degree in secondary science education.

"I teach seventh- and eighth-grade science, and there’s been a lot of overlap," he said. "Everything I’ve done, it’s all integrated."

Last summer, he became an adjunct professor at Faulkner State Community College, where he teaches anatomy and physiology, and he’s been pleased with his ability to guide his students in their future careers.

He was also honored to be named middle school Teacher of the Year at Perdido this year.

"Any time you’re recognized by your peers, it means something more," he said. "(Principal) Craig Smith has worked hard to recognize us, and the PTO and (civic groups) have recognized us. It’s been an unexpected, added blessing."

In addition to his teaching duties, Pimperl is faculty sponsor for the school’s 1st Priority Christian Club and he’s a member of CEAI, an international Christian teachers association.

He’s also certified by the National Board of Professional Teachers in Early Adolescent Science, and although he said it’s exhausting, he enjoys his work.

"I really think we’ve got a good thing going here at Perdido School," he said. "It’s a great little school, we’ve got a great administrator. He’s progressive and supportive," he said of Smith. "I have a wonderful PTO that gets me whatever I need."

He credits the school with helping in his career success, and he is thankful for his job.

"It’s really a team effort. Successful teaching is supported by the community, good administrators and a great main office staff," he said. "The teachers work together. Over lunch we coordinate our efforts across the curriculum, and I’m very fortunate."

He enjoys spending time with his "very supportive" wife and sons, playing basketball and being outdoors.